Comedian Russell Brand has cancelled gigs in the Middle East, after learning that his safety could not be guaranteed.

The 38-year-old had been due to perform his new show The Messiah Complex in Abu Dhabi and Lebanon as part of a world tour. However, organisers raised concerns regarding the possibility of negative reactions to material that will cover figures including Malcolm X, Mahatma Gandhi and Jesus.

"Those gigs have been banned. Pulled because of threats from extremists that if I went there, there would be problems," Brand told BBC Radio 5Live. "The venue contacted us and said we can no longer guarantee your safety."

Brand had announced the tour earlier this month, promising to play in "prisons, drug rehabs, social network HQs, universities, nationalist organisations, mosques, foreclosed houses, protest sites, synagogues and in people's private homes" around the world. The show examines "the importance of heroes in this age of atheistic disposability," he said.

However, the comedian soon faced warnings that his material would sit uneasily in certain countries. Thomas Oveson, promoter for Done Events ,which has toured western comedians in the Middle East, said: "Until he tours a show appropriate for this market, I cannot see how it would work, nor how the authorities here would feel comfortable with it.

"I would be very surprised if this artist would himself be comfortable with doing his current show here."